Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
State Government & Tribal Relations Committee
SB 5595
Brief Description: Adopting the evergreen state as the state nickname.
Sponsors: Senators Wilson, J., Rolfes, Holy, Wilson, L., Lovick, Nguyen, Randall, Wilson, C., Valdez, Kuderer, Torres, Pedersen, Dhingra, Lovelett, Padden, Keiser, Muzzall, Short, Robinson, Schoesler, Dozier, Wagoner, Billig, Van De Wege, Warnick, Fortunato, Rivers, Braun, King, Gildon, Boehnke, McCune, Shewmake, Salda?a, Cleveland, Trudeau, Frame, Conway, Hasegawa and Hunt.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Designates "The Evergreen State" as the official state nickname.
Hearing Date: 3/15/23
Staff: Desiree Omli (786-7105).
Background:

On November 11, 1889, Washington became the forty-second state to enter the Union.  In the late 1800's, Charles Tallmadge (C.T.) Conover, a pioneer Seattle realtor, newspaper columnist, and historian, coined the name "The Evergreen State" as a nickname for Washington in a promotional booklet titled Washington the Evergreen State and Seattle its Metropolis.  The booklet was aimed at drumming up real estate business and praised the abundant lush evergreen forests that adorns the state.  Conover was also instrumental in the movement to retain the name of Mount Rainier.  Today "The Evergreen State" is generally accepted as a reference to the state of Washington.  The nickname can be seen engraved on Washington license plates, on memorabilia sold at souvenir shops, and inscribed on the April 2007 United States memorial quarter honoring Washington.  While many state symbols, including the official state flag, song, dance, and seal have officially been designated as such in statute, no official state nickname has been designated in the same manner. 
Summary of Bill:

"The Evergreen State" is designated as the official nickname of the state of Washington.  Entities are not required to update or revise any existing materials, documents, or publications.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.